From: FGA
President Phil Ruotolo
Phil Ruotolo and members of the
FGA lobbying team had a very productive week in Tallahassee
and continue to see movement with pari-mutuel legislation.
On Monday, representatives from
the greyhound, jai alai and standard-bred horse industries met jointly with
Sen. Dennis Jones, chairman of the Senate Regulated Industries Committee. His
bill (SB 1038) regarding slot machines continues to evolve, and we asked him to
consider adding a provision that would give us the same arbitration rights that
thoroughbred horse owners and breeders have.
We presented Sen. Jones with
compelling arguments about why this is so important.
For example, the jai alai lobbyist
explained that players are currently engaged in a “soft strike.” They continue
to show up for work but picket during off-work hours. The standard bred horse
owners and breeders last week filed a lawsuit against the Pompano race track
over purse agreements.
Phil explained to Sen. Jones the
situations many of you face, including the financial burden you suffer as a
result of unfair purse-sharing agreements.
Sen. Jones was very supportive
and asked us to submit language to his staff. It looks similar to the bills
filed last year by Rep. Will Kendrick and Sen. Mike Bennett.
This bill is scheduled for a
committee hearing on Tuesday, March 27.
WE NEED YOUR HELP NOW convincing
other senators on the committee to include our “equity” language. Phone or
email the following committee members
and ask them to support language in SB 1038 that gives us mandatory arbitration
rights with greyhound track owners.
In the Florida House this week, the Business Regulation Committee
Chaired by Representative Carlos Lopez-Cantera approved HB 1377 relating to Card
Rooms.
The Bill, as it passed, would
permit additional games to be played in card rooms, would permit Tournaments,
permit hours of operation to be moved and permit operators to award giveaways.
Representative Evan Jenne D-Davie
sponsored an Amendment at the request of Chairman
Lopez-Canters that would let tracks run cardrooms without live racing but only
if
they had a written agreement with the association representing a majority of the owners, trainers,
or breeders in the State.
The Amendment passed unanimously.
This will mandate that the
Greyhound tracks negotiate fairly with the Florida Greyhound Association (FGA) on
this issue and could set a precedent for other issues such as purses from VLT’s.
This Amendment would provide
unprecedented equality in contract negotiating with the Greyhound Tracks
This was accomplished only because of the Leadership of Committee
Chairman Carlos
Lopez-Cantera R-Miami.
The Bill now goes to the Jobs and Entrepreneurship Council Chaired by
Rep. Ron Regan R-Sarasota.
Report
given by FGA Lobbying Team: Jack Cory, Lena Juarez and Alisa Snow
